Monday 18 July 2011

Not quite sure where to begin...

...I have just started my 7 weeks holiday (yep, you heard me! 7 weeks!) get a job in education!...the perks are great! ;-) ...so, my lads are all still at school until the end of this week...My eldest, Adam is on a school trip, a canal boat on the Grand Union canal, and the 2 littlies are enjoying some fun days within school...I love them all dearly but am super please to be having a week at home, blitzing, creating etc in peace before their holidays start!...
...Well, it's been almost a month since my last 'proper' blog, so, an update is way overdue, however, I have too much to blog on about, so will instead, upload pictures and explain a little about them!...
...it's been a fun month so far and it isn't over yet! I've watched my beautiful boys (through tears!) perform in their special schools' dance production which was based on My Fair Lady...they were absolutely wonderful and I was left feeling extremely proud of them...
...My little Jack went on his 1st residential to Grafham Water...he was away for 2 nights!!!...I was a bit of a mess!...he didn't want to talk about it when I collected him upon his return, but he wouldn't...it's past!...
...apparently, he didn't sleep too well but was a very good boy in the day time!...and we missed him enormously, particularly Sammy...so we had some quality time baking...although, Sam loses interest after about half a minute so I decided that we should create something quite basic, but fun and tasty!!...
...Crispy cakes!...
...Sam had more fun licking the spoon and bowl I fancy!...
...we've had fun times at work, students have left, new ones have joined us for taster days..a few have wobbled but, I think most of them are looking forward to coming up in September and I am thrilled to be working with some special students again and there's an air of excitement not knowing who we shall be placed with, what course etc. they will be on...my colleagues and I have had fun outside of work too.. a really nice meal the other week in ASK and a couple of my colleagues (who are in fact very good friends!) went out for morning tea and cake to celebrate a birthday...we went to the beautiful tea rooms in Ely, named Peacocks...

...it's a little piece of heaven on earth!...My friend Kim (who's birthday we were celebrating), has had a hectic, demanding, tiring few months and we wanted to make her birthday as special as we could, so I made her this...
...maybe another outlet! ;-) and I had these made for her...
...by the extraordinarily talented Leanne...
(AWESOME!!!)
...it's fair to say, we had a lush time!...
...that evening, we headed to the beautiful 17th century retreat of Mark's cousin Steven and wife Cathy...it was their 25th wedding anniversary and they had a garden/pool/disco/camping party...it was such a wonderful night and the weather was very kind to us...Jack and Sam both shared a pod in huge tent with Adam (first time ever! which has since lead me to buy our first tent...a 9 berth!!)...the boys were angels and I was so proud of all of them...even if they were in the swimming pool for the majority of the time!...

 ...my handsome boys!...

 ...Ellie, my lovely niece and I getting down to the funky music!...
 :-) Sam and Jack dancing (the lights were a big attraction!)
 ...the wall of the beautiful walled garden...
 ...quite stunning!...

 ...rather lush setting!... 

...Steven and Cathy...
...a rather late night and copious quantities of wine, Mark and I finally went to bed just as it turned lighter...around 3.10am! a little worse for wear on the Sunday morning, but orange juice and a bacon butty later, I was wandering the grounds along with my camera...

...a little twitching!...

...Jack and Sammy had their annual sports day on Friday, last week...both of them, not really feeling the active excitement!...



...a little bit happier after their picnic and during playtime...




...so, I've been a little domesticated again of late...slightly bewildered!...we had friends for dinner at the weekend and I decided to make this...

...beer butt chicken!...doesn't look very dignified poor old chicken but it is absolutely gorgeous and super easy to cook! half a can of Budweiser shoved up the chickens' bott with a really nice rub, served with roasted vegetables and accompanied by Mike (American serviceman) gift of garlic and mozzarella bread...heaven!...
...that brings me to the current day and I've still got lots to do before the month is over...

...my lovely friend Teresa and I are going to have a series of massages on Friday...we deserve it!

...then I'm off to Highfield School (boys special school) for their special leavers assembly and to watch my little Flap Jack receive a special award for outstanding progress...go Jack! best pop some tissues in my pocket!..
...it's also my 11th wedding anniversary and we're celebrating by going to London and somewhere I've wanted to visit for quite some time... 
...we're off to the 'Round' to see Anne Boleyn and I am very excited!...
...the week after, I start my birthday celebrations...
...a night out with the girls...meal and then drinkies!...
...and then a girly weekend to London's Southbank for the Vintage Festival...I am quite obsessed...
...I'm there purely for the atmosphere...no way will I be shopping!!!!!...yeah, right!...
and the week after that, we're off to ,hopefully sunny, Norfolk for our holiday...cannot wait!...that week is followed by Adam's 14th birthday celebrations...did I really say yes to 20 sleeping over?!...eek!...
and the week after that...me and my lush boys are on a road trip to Wales!!!

...since the filming Skomer Island by the very fabulous Iolo Williams, I have my heart set on getting down with the wildlife there and we're not very far from...

 Ynys Hir where Springwatch was actually filmed!...do you think I'm sad?!...the boys don't know that bit yet...I asked the boys what they thought my favourite thing in the world was the other day (obviously they are!) but they simply said "your camera?"...oh dear!... I've restrained myself from mentioning just how many trains there are!....I would never hear the end of it!!...
...right, think you must all be pretty much up to speed...I'll try not to leave it a month til the next post!...
Lo♥es
x

3 comments:

LouBee Crafts said...

Wow you have been busy! We've tried the beer butt chicken a couple of times now, and yes it doesn't look pretty, but it tastes great!

Have a lovely birthday and enjoy London.

Sarah x

Claire said...

Thank you Sarah...how's things with you?!.. Xx

LouBee Crafts said...

Busy making corsages and getting ready for our holiday. Theres lots going on, as always!!
Sarah xx